Bible is the most sacred book of jewish and Christian religions. It is considered to be the Word of God and they base their most important beliefs, ceremonies and holidays on it. The Bible is also known as the Holy Writ or the Holy Scriptures. It has two major parts, commonly called the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament begins with an account of God’s creation of the heavens and the earth. It deals with the history and religious life of Israel. The New Testament covers about 100 years describing the birth of the son of God, Jesus Christ. The word ‘Bible’ comes from a Greek word that means books. It is a widely read book, most influential with more translations in other languages and most widely distributed. The authors of the Bible have used many forms of literature which include poetry, hymns, songs, riddles, fiction, history, proverbs and essays. The Bible stories tells the tales of struggles, hopes, failures and triumphs. It has stirring descriptions of the glory of faith and its vivid portraits of people. The Gutenberg Bible was the first Bible printed from movable type. It was produced in the workshop of Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany during the mid 1400’s.
The Four Gospel Writers & associated Symbols:
ST. LUKE – OX
ST. MATHEW – ANGEL
ST. MARK – LION
ST. JOHN – EAGLE
INTERNATIONAL VERSION OF BIBLE VERSE
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” –James 1:5 Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Powered by BibleGateway.com
BIBLE WEEK
National Bible week is celebrated every year during the month end of November and December first week with faith flowing free into the hearts of many Christians. Bible, the most sacred book of jewish and Christian religion is considered to be the word of God and they base their most important beliefs, ceremonies and holidays on it. The Bible is also known as the Holy Writ or the Holy Scriptures. There are two major parts, The Old Testament and the New Testament. Bible comes from a greek word which means books. It is a most influential sacred book worldwide read and distributed. It include different forms of literature, hymns, poems, songs, riddles, fiction, history, proverbs and essays. The Bible stories tell the tales of struggles, hopes, failures and triumphs. It has stirring descriptions of the glory of faith and its vivid portraits of people. The Gutenberg Bible was the First Bible printed from movable type. It was produced in the workshop of Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany during the mind 1400’s.
Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Messiah was sent to earth to save Humanity. The word Christ comes from the Greek word ‘Christos’. The greek word is a translation of the Hebrew word Messiah meaning the anointed one. Four books of the New Testament, the Gospels (means good news) were written by Mathew, Mark, Luke and John which gave accounts of the life of Jesus. It is said Jesus was born during the lifetime of Herod, the great who rules palestine. No one knows exact time of the year when Jesus was born but the day of his birth was first celebrated on 25th December in the early 300s. The gospels of Mathew and Luke record that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. His mother Virgin Mary and Father Joseph. He was brought up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. The angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced that her child would be the son of God and the Messiah that was promised in the Hebrew bible. It would be a Holy spirit. Sometime before Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to record their names in a census. They found shelter in a stable. The seven year old crippled boy of the Inn keeper had compassion and allowed the couple to stay in a stable where Jesus was born and Mary made a cradle for him in the Manger. Shepherds saw angels in the sky who sang ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men'(Luke2:14). A bright star shined in the sky and the three wise men, travelled and found Jesus and gave him gifts. Due to Herod’s wrath, the wise men took different route home. Herod feared this new ‘King of Jews’ and ordered the deaths of all boys in Bethlehem 2 years old and younger. Joseph fled to Egypt and returned to Nazareth in Galilee after the death of Herod.Jesus probably grew up in Nazareth and help his father in carpentry work.
EPIPHANY
Epiphany is a Christian festival. In Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, Epiphany commemorates the adoration of the infant Jesus by the Three Wise Men (Also called ‘Magi’) who had come from the East. In Eastern churches, it celebrates the baptism of Jesus. Epiphany comes from the Greek word that means to appear or to show oneself. As a religious term, the word refers to an appearance by an invisible divine being in a visible form. For example, the Bible tells that God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush.
Most Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6. During Ephiphany in Western churches, Biblical texts are read in church that describe the various appearances of Jesus. In Eastern churches, the major observance is the blessing of baptismal water. Epiphany is celebrating the intervention of God in the life of people, relating effectively, the message which emerged from Christ’s birth place at Bethlehem. It is also known as the Feast of Lights or th eCandlemas Feast. In the past, it was known as the Twelfth Day as it falls on the twelfth day after Christmas and winds up formally the christmas season of celebrations. The Twelfth night celebration begins on eve of January 5 and the fest of Epiphany is celebrated on the following day in the Jewish tradition, a day begins the previous evening. The ceremonies and festivities are called ‘revels’ Comedies were performed at the courts and homes of nobles.
The Twelfth Night, Comedy of Shakespeare embodies the genial spirit of the Twelfth Night’s revelry. The festival of god Aeon, Persephone the Virgin’s son was celebrated on 6th January. Each year on this day, the waters of the Nile river of Egypt were believed to have acquired special powers and in Asia Minor and Arabia fountains sacred to the god Dionysus were reported to have flowed with wine. The feast originated in the first half of the fourth century sometime before Christmas was introduced in Rome around 354 A.D.
{jathumbnail off}
